Narrative:A U.S. Navy North American Rockwell CT-39E Sabreliner jet was ditched in the South China Sea off the Spratly Islands. All three crew members entered a life raft and were later rescued by a Vietnamese navy vessel. The airplane, from the Navy's Fleet Logistics Support Squadron at Cubi Point, suffered problems with the navigation system, forcing the crew to ditch the plane when it ran out of fuel.

This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path. Distance from Singapore-Changi International Airport to Subic Bay International Airport as the crow flies is 2319 km (1449 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.